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MARK BRINGS UP 400 WITH I GET AROUND AT NELSON

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones brought up his 400th training win when I Get Around won on the second day of the Nelson summer meeting on Sunday, January 10, 2016.

The former World Champion driver has focused on the training role in latter years with his stable earnings having quickly soared past the $3.7 million mark.

I Get Around, who notched her first win at Nelson and became the 400th training success for Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones.

He prepared his first winner with a licence to train in 2002 when Man O Man won a maiden trot at Oamaru.

Mark, in his eighth season as a professional trainer, prepared 12 winners in his first term branching out as a public trainer in 2008-09.

He switched from a licence to train in the second half of that season, after already racking up 18 wins.

Subsequently, he’s trained 50 or more winners each season, apart from 2012-13 when he was stuck on 40.

His best season to date was 73 wins in 2014, with the stable earning $768,152, with star trotter Master Lavros being the main stable earner.

Mark also racked up 70 wins last season for $677,709 in stakes. Having a second stable at Woodend Beach on top of his Burnham stables is proving a worthwhile extension to his operation.

He’s having another good season with 25 wins on the board for $336,309 in stakes, highlighted by the second Dominion Handicap win for top trotter Master Lavros at Addington in November.

With Master Lavros, and stable pacing star Saveapatrol, both sidelined with injuries, speedy pacing mare Rocker Band, unbeaten in both starts this term, is the main stable flag-bearer over the second half of the season.

Rocker Band, driven in both victories this term by Sam Ottley, was a slick 1:53.3 mile winner first-up at Winton last month, and repeated with a comfortable front-running win in the Golden Edge Nelson Cup Prelude on the first day at Nelson.

She didn’t start on the second day, being reserved for a Prodigal Seelster Summer Of Speed Series Heat at Addington on Friday, and next month’s Premier Mares Championship at Addington.

I Get Around, the stable’s latest maiden winner, improved on a good second on the first day at Nelson to deliver in the Route 6 Automotive/Richmond Top 10 Holiday Park Mobile Pace.

The 3YO Bettor’s Delight filly was given every chance by Sam Ottley, showing gate speed from the six gate to wrest the early lead, then was perfectly placed after taking a trail behind Patrick Bee.

I Get Around rounded the race off well along the sprint lane to win going away by a 1 1/2 lengths in a strong 2:58.7 (1:59.8 mile rate) for the mobile 2400m, the leaders running their last 800m in 57.3s.

The filly, raced by Australia’s Kevin Stanley (who raced Strike On Command), along with Cantabrians, Grant and Katherine Hatton (Grant racing Saveapatrol), and Phil and Christine Smith (who formerly raced 2006 Dominion Handicap winner Whatsundermykilt), showed promise at two but is now strengthening into her good frame.

She is the first foal and only NZ foal from Runaround Rhonda, an Artsplace half-sister to Saveapatrol (11 wins from 18 starts for $145,618).

Runaround Rhonda, a daughter of the big-winning Falcon Seelster mare Rondel Franco (1:51.6 US, 35 wins & $684,003), was also prepared by Mark, but was retired after placing only once at Motukarara in eight starts.

By Jeff Scott

ROCKER BAND PRODUCES ALL THE RIGHT MOVES AT NELSON

Warm favourite Rocker Band had to be quick on her feet to avoid disaster in the $11,743 Golden Edge Nelson Cup Prelude on the first day of the Nelson summer meeting on Friday, January 8, 2016.

The Rocknroll Hanover mare stepped at her first stand start, working to the front for driver Sam Ottley and appeared to have complete control of the C3 and faster pace.

Rocker Band, furthered her smart career on the first day of the Nelson summer meeting.

However, a displaced marker pole on the track with 500m to run made her mix her stride for a couple of hops, giving supporters slight cause for concern.

It was only a slight blip on Rocker Band’s radar.

Safely past the obstacle, she was untroubled to hold Graduate Under Fire by a length and a half to rack up her sixth win from 16 starts.

Overport Lodge trainer Mark Jones decided against backing her up over 3000m in the Cup itself on Sunday.

She only went to Nelson primarily to race over 2400m on the first day after her scheduled race, the Golden Girls Series Heat, was deleted due to lack of acceptors.

The daughter of NZ Cup winning mare Mainland Banner will target the Group Two $40,000 Garrards Premier Mares Championship at Addington on February 12 and latterly the Group One $100,000 PGG Wrightson NZ Breeders Stakes on April 1 at Addington over the next few months.

“”I will find a race for her before the Mares Championship but I’m actually unsure where,” Mark said.

“She’s back bigger and better this season,” he said.

Following the Breeders Stakes, the Greg Brodie-owned mare may head to Australia in search of other suitable mares races.

Rocker Band is now unbeaten in two starts this term, having paced a smart 1:53.3 (mile) at Winton first-up on December.

The 4YO will continue her racing career for Mr Brodie then is to be returned to former owner Mark Jones for breeding at the end of her race career.

By Jeff Scott

DANKE SCORES AGAIN FOR THE DANKE FOR COMING SYNDICATE

Confidence levels were not shooting through the roof with squaregaiter Danke when the rain came at Rangiora on Sunday January 2, 2016.

However, the now 86-start veteran responded to a top drive and handled the conditions better than the rest to take out the C0-1 Happy New Year Trot.

Danke, scored his second win in six months for Mark McNamara’s Danke For Coming Syndicate.

In the process, the 8YO notched his second win since being snapped up by Mark McNamara for the Danke For Coming Syndicate last June and transferring to the Overport Lodge stable of Mark Jones.

Danke had won first-up for the Syndicate in the black and white Overport colours at Forbury on July 17.

Again, as he’s done with busy pacer Fair Dinkum Bromac, trainer Mark Jones racked up the starts with Danke in November-December.

Danke appreciated a drop-back to C1, winning second-up since being downgraded on Sunday, and starting again in a C0-1 trot was a luxury for the four-race winner.

Danke’s had previously also won twice for former Motukarara trainer Murray Edmonds.

The fourth favourite stepped safely for Samantha Ottley off the 30m-line in the opener at Rangiora for his latest win, settling seventh as a few made mistakes.

After working to three back trail on the outer beginning the final lap, Sam waited until the 700m before improving as Young Stranger put some pressure to leader Lisa Marie P.

Sam was able to take a vacant spot in the trail before the turn and well-rated, they made it look easy in the run home, coming clear by 2 1/4 lengths.

Trainer Mark Jones, campaigning other members of the team on the Central Otago New Year circuit, watched from afar by was quickly on the phone to congratulate Mark McNamara and his syndicate on their latest win.

The win was Sam’s fifth driving win for the season and moved Mark’s Overport Lodge stable to 22 training wins for the season.